SECURE SITE

History

A dark night in the late winter of 1919, a cry of fire rings out at Main Road and Sheridan Avenue. The home of John Bartholomew home is ablaze. Neighbors across the street, the Daniel Sanders and Fred Anthony families, rush to aide but were unsuccessful without equipment. The home, unfortunately, was a total loss. Because of this fire and others that occurred in South Vineland, the community started to plan for a local fire company. Surrounding companies from Millville and Vineland were willing to help but their distance was a handicap.

After two preliminary meetings in July and August of 1919 at the South Vineland School, the first organizational meeting was held on September 2, 1919. The following list were the charter members that signed up that evening:

Anthony, Fred R.

Bartholomew, John

Baumbach, George

Baumbach, Louis

Berry, Clarence M.

Birch, Louis R.

Castellini Sr., Charles

Castellini, John

Castellini Jr., Louis

Castellini, Ted

Clark, Lyman M.

Clark, R.H.

Cocking, Bryon

Cookingham, R.D.

Conner, Frank B.

Creamer, D. Harry

Crossley, Thomas

Davall Jr., Charles

Fothergill, Horace

Hann, Daniel

Hendricks, William

Howe, E.E.

Jenkins, Vinal

Jordon, W.E.

Morrison, Albert

Morrison, Charles

Otto Jr., William

Sanders, Clifton

Sanders, Daniel O.

Sweet, M.M

Watts, John A.

Weed, John M.

Officers elected on September 2, 1919 were as follows:

Charles Davall - President (Served two months, September and October 1919)

Daniel O. Sanders - Vice President (Became president in November 1919 until September 1925)

E.E. Howe - 2nd Vice President (1st Vice President on February 3, 1920)

L.M. Clark - 2nd Vice President (February 3, 1920)

John M. Weed - Secretary

Charles Morrison - Treasurer

M.M. Sweet - Trustee (3 years)

J.A. Watts - Trustee (2 years)

R.D. Cookingham - Trustee (Appointed February 3, 1920)

Albert Morrison - Trustee (2 years)

Louis Castellini - Trustee (1 year)

Thomas Crossley - Trustee (1 year)

Ted Castellini - Foreman

Clarence Berry - 1st Assistant Foreman

Charles Morrison - 2nd Assistant Foreman

Property

November 11, 1919 – Motion to locate a permanent site for fire hall.

December 2, 1919 – Commisioner reported Mrs. Della Cheeseman would give a 99 year lease for 100 foot frontage and as deep as necessary on Main Road north of her store.

February 3, 1920 – Discussion regarding erection of new fire house.

March 2, 1920 – Incorporation papers received bill from lawyer Benj. Stevens for $14.00 for drawing up papers.

April 6, 1920 – Title to land received – some difficulty getting a clear title.

May 4, 1920 – Lawyer advised us to pay Mrs. Cheeseman if necessary to secure a release to clear title.

May 2, 1922 – Letter of thanks sent to Mr. Alexander for his donation of outbuilding.

1924 – Talked of building a new fire hall. Chief Baumbach reportred that a new bulding would cost about $20,000 or a debt to the Company of $300.00 per month. The information was turned over to the civic association.

July 1, 1924 – That the trustees have full power to act to consummate the trasaction of property and that deed be made out “South Vineland Fire Company No. 1.”

November 10, 1924 – Committee reported deed property made out and turned over to Fire Commissionsers.

FIRE HALL 1926

February 2, 1926, appropriation asked to build a new hall not to exceed $20,000. Due to shortage of money the fire company helped to dig the cellar. They also supplied the ashes and gravel and spread same on Thanksgiving Day. Bought card tables, shuffle board and a new pool table $302.51. Bought and equipped with furniture (all property including furniture and equipment to be property of Fire District). Charles Ackley auctioned off one-half of the original Fire Hall to South Vineland Boy Scout Leaders. L.S. Riggins and Clifton Sanders money returned to Boy Scouts meeting of Feb. 1927.

1962 – Addition added on to the Main Road Fire Hall to accommodate Brockway Fire truck.

FIRE HALL 2004

In January 2003, the City of Vineland Fire Department Station 2 (and the South Vineland Fire Company) relocated to a new station on East Sherman Avenue - just around the corner from the 1926 station. The new quarters provide ample room for equipment and personnel. A large training room accommodates mothly meetings and training seminars on a regular basis. Members take time to relax in the day room, where the antique pool table was relocated.

Sunshine Society No. 10

Previous to May 13, 1927 when the Ladies Auxiliary was formed, the Sunshine Society of South Vineland acted as Mother and Fund Raiser for the new fire company. Suppers in the Fire Hall at which several hundred attended were put on with the cooperation of the Sunshine Girls. A few items from our minutes are as follows:

November 11, 1919 – Pres. Mrs. Fotergill attended meeting, said they were the first organization to help the Fire Company. They made a donation from proceeds of a supper.

December 2, 1919 – Thanked Sunshine for help and aid at supper.

May 29, 1929 – Donated American Flag to Company.

June 1, 1920, - Gave donation for building fund.

December 7, 1920 – Motion to allow Sunshine Society to hold their meetings in the Fire Hall.

January 3, 1922 – Thanks for a lunch.

December 4, 1923 – Made a donation to fire company.

February 1926 – Monetary gift presented to fire company.

March 1927 – Gave kitchen utensils etc. New Hall. Thanked for help for big supper.

Former members of the Sunshine Society who used to volunteer for the Fire Co.

January 6, 1925 – Motion made and carried that the company recommend to Fire Commissioner the purchase of a white chassis with Buffalo Equipment. We received a red chassis with Buffalo Chemicals tanks and Equipment.

1941 – 1941 Ford Pumper purchased by company.

1953 – Company purchased 1954 Brockway 1000 gal/min pumper.

November 1953 – Boot rack installed on Brockway.

1961 – 1961 Ford Pumper purchased by city.

August 1962 – New tank installed by Cresci Body Works in the 1941 Ford.

May 2004 –’04 Ford F350 purchased by city. Truck to be called Brush 2.

August 2004 – Engine 21, 1994 E-one, sent out to be painted red and white, upon return truck was outfitted as a rescue pumper, truck renamed Rescue 2 and later changed back to Engine 21.

Fireman of the Year

1976 - Felix Bergamo

1977 - Aldo Lovisone

1978 - Ralph Jones

1979 - Daniel Fagan

1980 - Ike Merighi

1981 - Jack Chynoweth

1982 - Lou Caregnato

1983 - John Pearson Sr.

1984 - Manuel Wilson

1985 - Don Lovisone

1986 - Dan Weir

1987 - William Bean

1988 - Felix Bergamo

1989 - Louis Montresor

1990 - Joseph Letizia

1991 - Joseph Bergamo

1992 - Elmer Hines

1993 - John Pearson Jr.

1994 - Francisco Torres

1995 - Jeff Kraus

1997 - George Bergamo

1998 - Chris Rodriquez

1999 - John Shaw

2000 - John Gilroy

2001 - Charles Nash

2002 - Bob Mole

2003 - Larry Zukovsky

2004 - Entire Company

2005 - Matthew Robison

2006 - Steve Graiff

2007 - Ryan Feaster

2008 - Robert Sanders

2009 - John Mitch

2010 - To be determined

Exempt Fireman

Exempt Fireman – At a meeting May 3, 1927 a committee reviewing the books found the following 16 men eligible for exempt fireman status, having served seven (7) years with over sixty percent (60%) average.